Cooky making machine



y 1952 R. .1. WILLIAMS 2 2,597,271

COOKY MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet l May 20, 1952 R.J. WILLIAMS COOKY MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Fzkiar/ J'fl/ZZQ/zzs.

May 20, 1952 R. J. WILLIAMS COOKY MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Shet 5 FiledOct. 9, 1946 INVENTOR. 77Z 4/a y 1952 v R. J. WILLIAMS 2,597,271

COOKY MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 0, 1952 R. J.WILLIAMS 2,597,271

COOKY- MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zia Ell. '2.INVENTOR.

May 20, 1952 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,597,271

COOKY MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 20, 1952 R.J. WILLIAMS COOKY MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed 001;. 9, 1946 IN V EN TOR. 5 15/34 2 fwd/24 May 20, 1952 R. J. WILLIAMS COOKY MAKINGMACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed 001:. 9, 1946 NWN mum INVENTOR.

y 1952 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,597,271

COOKY MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 j \J I t i 5INVEIVTOR.

BY E WS;D%Z W&Q.

fatentecl May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT O F-FICE C OOKY MAKINGMACHINE Richard J. Williams, Birmingham, Mich.

Application October 9, 1946, Serial No. 702,222

Claims.

This invention relates to baking equipment and more particularly to anautomatic machine for operating on batter, dough or the like andproducing finished baked goods.

The principal objects of the invention are: to provide an improvedautomatic machine adapted to receive a prepared batter or dough andperform all the operations necessary to turn out completed baked goods;to provide a machine incorporating improved means for forming the dough0r batter into rolls, cookies or the like, having improved means forbaking and drying the product and for removing the finished product fromthe machine; to provide, in such a machine, improved means for applyinga suitable topping to the cookies; to provide an improved conveyeradapted for use in' a baking machine and including improved trayscarried thereby for supporting the cookies in a horizontal positionindependently of the direction of movement of the conveyer; to providein a baking machine means for driving the conveyer and operating the Icookie-forming means, the topping dispensing means and the cookieremoving means; to provide driving means for a baking machine by whichthe cookie forming, topping dispensing and cookie removing operationsare performed in timed relation to the movement of a conveyer; toprovide a baking machine having a table top portion along which aplurality of stations are located, at which are performed sequentialoperations incident to the making of the final baked goods which areadvanced on trays having supporting surfaces disposed flush with saidtable top portion; and to provide improved means disposed intermediatesaid cookie removing and said cookie forming means for cleaning andgreasing the cookie-carrying trays.

With the above as well as other and more detailed objects in view, whichwill become apparent from a consideration of the following specificationand appended claims, a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several viewsof which like reference characters designate like parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a cookie baking machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end View of the machine illustrated in Fig.1, showing aportion of the cabinet broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken plan View of the 2 structure illustrated inFig. 2, as viewed from the line 4--4 thereof, and showing parts brokenaway;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the structure illus-' trated in Fig. 4,taken substantially along the line 55 thereof; 1 1

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig.5, taken substantially along the line 6-6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig.6, as viewed from line 1--'I thereof;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. '7 asviewed from line -8- 8 thereof; I

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7, takensubstantially along the line 9-9 thereof; a

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged broken sectional views of the structureillustrated in Fig. 5, taken substantially along the'lines l0l fl andH-Il thereof, respectively; 7

Fig. 12 is an elevational'view of the structur illustrated in Fig. 10,as viewed from line 12-12 thereof;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structureillustrated in Fig. 5, taken substantially along the line l3l 3 thereof;

Fig. 14 is a broken plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13,as viewed from line l-5l5 thereof;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13,taken substantially along the line 16-46 thereof;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 5,'taken substantially along the line i'l-l 1 thereof;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged broken plan view of a portion of the structureillustrated in Fig. 2, as viewed from line I 8-! 8 thereof;

Fig. 19 is a broken elevational view of the structure illustrated inFig. 18, as viewed from line Iii-I9 thereof;

Fig. 20 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 19,as viewed from line 2il 2i] thereof;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged broken elevational view of a portion of thestructure illustrated in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 22 is a broken plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, asviewed from line 22-22 thereof.

It will be apparent that, in its broader aspects, the present inventionmay be embodied in bakery equipment of widely different types and sizesincluding machines for use with various types of doughs and batter. Apreferred application of the invention is in the making of cookies, andin an illustrative but not in a limiting sense the invention is sodisclosed herein.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cookie making machine there illustratedgenerally comprises a cabinet 30 having an insulated portionconstituting a cooking or baking oven 32, and a ventilated portion 34constituting a drying oven. An endless conveyor system, generallydesignated at 36, is mounted in the cabinet 30 for advancing a pluralityof cookie trays 38 through the cooking oven 32, the drying oven 34, andpast a plurality of processing stations disposed along a table portion39 of the cabinet 30. These include a station 40 at whichcookie batteris formed into cookie shape and dropped onto the trays 38; a station 42at which any suitable topping such, for example, as sugar, nuts,

continuous conveyor 36, and certain of the mechanism hereinafterdescribed, employed at the various stations above mentioned, are drivenby an electric motor 50, through an adjustable speed reducer 52 and afixed speed reducer 54, allof which are also housed in the cabinet 30.

The cabinet 30 is generally rectangular in shape having the insulatedcooking oven 32 disposed in an upwardly extending portion at one endthereof. Access to the cooking oven 32 is permitted by a door 56 whichhas a glass panel 58 therein permitting observation of the baking of thecookies. The circulation of heated air through the cooking oven 32 maybe controlled by a damper 60 disposed centrally of the top of thecooking oven and operable by a handle 62 mounted on the front side ofthe cooking ovenabove the door 56. The cooking ovenis preferably heatedby electric heating units 64 mountedjon the bottom of the oven. Ifdesired, however, a conventional gas burner 66 may be employed .in.place of the electric heating element 64.

The motor 50 and speed reducer units 52 and 54 are mounted in the lowerportion of the cabinet 30 directly below the cooking oven'32. Theportion of the cabinet extending beyond the cooking oven 32 comprisesthe drying oven 34. Air is circulated through the drying oven throughventilators 68 and I at opposite ends of the cabinet by a fan 12 whichis mounted in the "cabinet adjacent to the ventilator '10.

The endless conveyor system 36 comprises a pair of spaced endless chainsI4 disposed adjacent to the front and rear of the cabinet 30 and trainedover and supported on a plurality of sprocket wheels 16 rotatablymounted on suitable brackets I8 supported in the cabinet. The chains I4are also trained over a pair of driving sprockets 80 mounted on a shaft82 extending transversely of the cabinet. At its front end, the shaft 82carries a sprocket 84 through which it is driven by a chain 86 trainedover the sprocket 84 and a sprocket mounted on the output shaft of thegear box 54. The desired degree of tension is maintained in the chains14 by training them bodily over movable sprockets 88 which are ro- 4tatably mounted on a transversely extending shaft 90 at the top of theoven 32. The ends of the shaft 90 are supported in corresponding ends oflevers 92 which are pivotally supported intermediate their ends on thesupporting structure 9I within the oven, the other end of which carry aplurality of weights 94. These weights may be changed to vary thetension in the chains 14 as desired. Since each of the sprockets I6 isfreely rotatable upon its mounting, only a single pair of movablesprocket wheels '88 is required to prevent slack throughout the entireconveyor system. The length of conveyer line within the cooking oven 32is properly proportioned relative to that within the drying oven 34 toprovide the proper relation of baking time to drying time.

Referring to.Figs. 7, 8, and 9, each of the trays 38 carried by theconveyer 36 is generally rectangular in form and has a downwardlyextending peripheral flange 96. A pair of counterbalancing Weights 98 issecured to the trays 38 at opposite ends thereof by Z-shaped bracketsI00 having an upwardly extending leg riveted or otherwise secured to theflange 96 at the ends of the tray. An inwardly offset leg extendsdownwardly on each bracket, to which the weights 98 are secured by boltsI02 and cooperating nuts I04. Each tray 38 is supported across the chainI4 on a pair of aligned inwardly directed pins I06 each of which issecured to achain 14, as by welding, in position to engageopposite endsof the tray. The brackets I00 and the flange 96 are notched at I01 topermit the trays 38 to be lowered'vertically onto the pins I06 duringassemblyand to be readily lifted therefrom for purposes of cleaning orservicing the machine. From a consideration of this construction of thetray 38,- it will be apparent that the tray is supported well above itscenter of gravity as lowered by the weights 98, and that, consequently,the upper surface thereof is horizontal at all times independently ofthe direction of movement of the segment of the chain upon which it issupported. as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The conveyer line 36 is so laid out that immediately upon entering thebaking oven 32, the trays are carried to the top portion thereof remotefrom the heating element from whence they travel back and forth acrossthe oven, moving one step lower on each reversal of movement. Thecompletely baked cookies are carried by the traysout through the bottomof the cooking-oven and into the drying oven 34. When this dryingprocess is completed, the trays carrying the finished cookies moveupwardly along the left-hand 'end of the cabinet, asviewed in Fig. 2,and into an aperture I05 extending longitudinally of thetable portion39. The trays are carried alongin the aperture I05 with their uppersurface flush-with the table portion 39 of the cabinet. To insure thisdisposition of the trays, the conveyer chains 14 are supportedthroughout this portion of their travel on a pair of spaced angle ironsI08 secured to supporting members I 09 which extend longitudinally ofthecabinet adjacent to the front and rear edges of the'aperture I05 inthe table portion.

As the trays 38 move along the table portion 39 from left to right, asviewed in Fig. 2, they are moved through the above mentioned stations,44, 46, 48, 49 and 42. The trays come first to the cookie removingstation 44 where the cookies are removed by means illustrated in detailin Figs. 18, 19 and 20. The removing means comprises a cookie scoop I I0having a flat rectangular portion disposed transversely of the cabinet30 and having one edge adapted to ride on the upper surface'of themoving trays 38 to have the cookies advance thereon and removed from thetrays as the trays advance thereunder. At the opposite edge of the scoopI I0, 9. downwardly presenting channel I I2 is integrally formedthereon. The cookie scoop H is carried by a shaft II4 having on itsprojecting end a bifurcated fitting I I8 which is pivotally connected bya pin II8 to a bracket I20, thereby permitting pivotal movement of thescoop IIO in ,a vertical plane transversely of the cabinet 30.

The above mentioned mounting of the cookie scoop IIO on the shaft II4 isaccomplished by a plurality of blocks I22 disposed within the channelII2 transversely thereof and secured thereto by a plurality of screwsI24. The blocks I22 are provided with oil impregnated or like bearingsI26 in which the shaft I I4 is journaled.

A leaf spring I28 is secured to the channel II2 by a pair of screws I30in position to engage the table portion 39 rearwardly of the apertureI05, to urge the cookie scoop I I0 to the position illustrated in Fig.20, during the cookie picking-up portion of its cycle of operation. Whenthe cookies have been picked up by the scoop, the latter is then pivotedabout the pin II8 to the position'illustrated in Fig. 19 by meanshereinafter described, and the cookies slide down the scoop and off themachine into a suitable receptacle. A torsional coil spring I32 isdisposed about the shaft with one end anchored thereto by a screw I34and the other end anchored in one of the blocks I22. As the scoop istilted upwardly, the release of the leaf spring I28 permits the springI32 to rotate the cookie scoop about the shaft I I4 to a position inwhich the flat rectangular portion of the cookie scoop and the adjacentside of the channel II2 form an angularly disposed trough along whichthe cookies slide from the machine, as above described.

The above described cookie scoop, as well as certain of the othermechanism disposed at other of the above mentioned stations, iscontrolled by as cam shaft I34 extending transversely of the cabinet 30and carrying a sprocket wheel I36 driven from the speed reducer 54 by achain I38, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The cam shaft is rotatablysupported on a pair of vertically disposed, outwardly presenting channelelements I31, the lower ends of which are secured to the base of thecabinet and the upper ends of which are secured to the angle irons I09.A cookie remover cam I40 is mounted on the camshaft I34 and engages oneend of a lever I42 which is pivotally mounted on the cabinet 30. Theother end of the lever I42 is pivotally connected to the lower end of arod I44, the upper end of which carries a bifurcated fitting I 48 whichis pivotally connected to the shaft I I4 by a pin I48.

The speed of the camshaft I34 and the shape of the cookie remover camI40 are such that the cookie scoop IIO moves in timed relation to themovement of the trays 38. The cycle of operation of the cookie scoop II0 is such that it engages the upper surface of one tray 38 until thecookies thereon have been picked up, and then pivots to the positionillustrated in broken lines in Fig. 19 to discharge the finishedcookies, and returns to the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and afterthe gap between the adjacent trays has passed beneath the cookie scoop,but in time to pick up the cookies from the next tray.

From the cookie removing station 44 the trays 38 move to the cleaningstation 46 at which a V-shaped doctor blade I50, mounted on the uppersurface of the cabinet, scrapes the cookie crumbs and any excess toppingfrom the upper surface of the trays. To insure that the doctor blade I50will ride up onto the upper surface of the trays 38 and not becomecaught on the edges thereof, the corners of the trays are deformed toprovide tapered or inclined portions I5I. Because of the V-shape of thedoctor blade I50, the scrapings removed by the doctor blade are movedtoward the center of the cabinet and dropped between adjacent trays 38onto a removable tray I extending transversely of the cabinet andsupported on spaced transversely extending angle brackets The trays 38thereafter are advanced to the greasing station 48 where they receive acoat of fresh grease preparatory to receiving a. new set of cookies. Agrease containing reservoir I64 extends transversely of the conveyor andis supported on the table portion 39 forwardly and rearwardly of theaperture I05. The grease is picked up from the reservoir I64 by arotating cylinder I66, which is partially submerged in the grease, andis passed to a second cylinder I68 which is disposed parallel theretoand rolls in contact therewith and. from which the grease is picked upby a rotating cylindrical brush I70 and applied to the trays 38. Therolls I88 and I68 are preferably of hollow, metal construction and carrymeshing gears I12 and I14, respectively, which provide a positive drivetherebetween. The cylindrical brush I70 is driven from the roll I68through a belt I10 which is trained over pulleys I78 and I80 secured tothe front ends of the roll I68 and the cylindrical brush I10,respectively. The roll I86 is driven from the camshaft I34 through apair of interconnected, coaxial pulleys I8I and E82, rotatably supportedon the cabinet rearwardly of the aperture I05 by a bracket I83. A V-beltI84 is trained over the larger pulley I82 and over a pulley I86 securedto the rearwardly extending end of the roll I63. A second V-belt I88 istrained over the smaller pulley I8I and over a pulley I90 secured to therearwardly extending end of the camshaft I34 for rotation therewith.

The rolls I66 and I68 and the cylindrical brush I10 are supported oncentrally disposed shafts I92, I04 and I95, respectively, which arejournaled at each end in corresponding bearings I98, 200 and 202 carriedon a pair of spaced, vertically disposed bearing plates 204. The bearingplates 204 are pivotally mounted on a transversely extending tubularshaft 206 which is disposed generally parallel to and in spaced relationabove the table portion 39. The shaft 208 is supported at its ends onvertically disposed longitudinally extending side walls 208 of a hood,generally designated 2 I 0, which is mounted on the table portion andextends from the cooking oven 32 to a point beyond the doctor blade I50.The shaft 206 is supported on the side walls 208 by bolts 2 I 2 whichare threaded into tapped bosses 2I4 which are welded or otherwisesecured to the inner surface of the side walls 208 and which haveinwardly extending shank portions 2 I 6 projecting into the open ends ofthe tubular shaft 208 to rotatably support the latter.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the side walls 208 are held in the desiredspaced relation by a pair of vertically spaced tubular spacer bars 2IIextending transversely of the cabinet and disposed intermediate thetopping dropping station 42 and the baking oven 32. The ends of the bars2I'I are.

" supported in suitable brackets 2| 9 mounted on sperm-1 7 the sidewalls 208' by any-isuitable means such as screws 22 I From thegreasing-station the trays move to thestation46 at which thecook-ie'batter-is formed into cookie disks-which-are dropped onto thepassing trays. The -cookie batter is placedin and carried by a V-shapedhopper '2 l 8 which is disposed transversely of the cabinetand extendsupwardly through the above-mentioned hood 2.10. The hopper 2l8compi'-ises a pair of transversely extending side members 220 disposedat an angle to-one another, and a pair of end plates 222 which arebolted to inwardly turned flanges 224 formed on the side'members 223. Atthe bottom of the hopper, a painof transverselyexten'ding rolls'226 issecured to shafts 228 which are journaled in suitable bearings.236-carried by the .end plates 222. The rolls NS-function toforce thecookie batter downwardly through the hereinafter .described meansforforming the'cookies. To prevent the rolls iromspinnin'g .in thebatter without moving the latter, .the external surfaces of the rollsare provided'with a pluralityofangularly spaced, longitudinallyextending channels, best: illustrated at I32 in Fig. 5. A space,indicated at :234 in 'Fig. 4, is provided between the adjacent surfacesof the rolls to permit the passage of the cookie batter downwardlytherebetween. The rolls 226 are interconnected by a pair of meshinggears 235 mounted at corresponding ends of the shaft 228 and securedthereto. At its opposite end one of the shafts 228 carries a ratchetwheel 231 by which the rolls are driven. Adjacent to their lower edges,the sides 226 of the hopper 218 are shaped'to conform to the curvatureof the rolls 226 and terminate at their lower edges in downwardly turnedflange 235. The flanges 235, and the lower edges or the hopper endplates 222, seat on the upper surface of a pair of transverselyextending supporting bars 238 which are secured to the sides 283 of thehood.

The above mentioned bars 238 are held in the proper spaced relation byend members 240 to which they are secured by bolts 242. One of thesupporting bars 233, which is remote from the cooking oven 32, or to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 5, has a, pair of spaced brackets 242spot-welded thereto adjacent to its ends, which extends outwardly andupwardly therefrom and support a transversely extending pivot rod 244.The end plates 222 of the hopper'carryoutwardly extending'projections248 in which the rod 244 is'journaled. This construction permits theentire hopper 218, with therolls 226 and the gears 238 and the ratchetwheel 231, to be pivoted about the rod2 44 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed ln'Fig. 5. 'To permit this pivoting of the hopper,the hood 210 is closed at the end remote from the cooking oven, by anend plate 241 which is supported'on the sides 288 for pivotal movementabout its lower'edge.

"The cross bars 238 also'support an extruding die'246 extendinglongitudinally thereof and having'a plurality of cookie extrudingopenings 241 spaced therealong. The die is provided with outwardlyextending flanges 248 which engage in opposed complementary recessesformed in the cross arms 238 below the end plates 24a. The die 246 isreleasably secured in place by means of thumb screws 250 mounted in oneof the cross bars 238 and engaging-the flange 248 of the die. Thisconstruction permits the shape and size of the cookie's 'to'be variedbyv looseningthe thumb screws 2501and substituting another die.

The zrolls 226 are driven, and the extruded cookies arecut offlan'ddropped onto the: trays 48, by meanstoperatedifrom' the camshaft: L34;and including. a Lpair of generally 16 -shaped arms .1 252 disposediatoppositeiends ofthe'hopperandinterconnectedlintermediate their .ends bya. crossbar 2.5.4. The foe-shaped .arms 252 are rotatably mounted on:coaxial pivots 25.8..mounted on the side members 26801" the hood. Theupperend of each arm'252'is pivotally connected to the upper endiofan'actuating rod 258, the lowernend of which is connected to a camhousing comprising a pair of flat spaced members 260 weldedtogether attheir-ends and having aligned longitudinally extendingslots 262formedtherein for-receiving the camshaft l;34iand permitting verticalmovement of the housingrelative thereto. This vertical movement of thehousing occurs in response to the movement of a roller 264, supportedbetweenthespacedplateS-ZSB on'a pin 266 extending transversely thereof,as the roller 264 rolls along the peripheral surface of a cam 268 keyedto thecamshaft I34 intermediate the plates 260. The cam 268 is shaped togradually raise the housing and actuating shaft-258 from its loweredposition to its fully raised position, illustrated in Fig. 5, and thenrapidly drop the actuating shaft to the lowered-position. This isaccomplished by forming-thecam 268 so that its roller engagingsurface-spirals outwardly from a point of minimum radius toa point ofmaximumradiusand then-abruptlyreturns to the-minimum radius along agenerally. radially disposed portion of-its surface. "The cam causestheC-shapedarms'252 to-rapidly move from the position illustrated infulllines in'-.Fig.I5-to the-positionillustrated in broken'lines, andthen return relatively slowly to-theposition illustrated in full lines.

'Consideringfirst the'function of the arm 252 as a part of the drivingmechanism for the hopper rolls 226, andreferring to Figs5 and 10, aquadrant plate'210 is rotatably mountedon a shaft 21 I 'coaxial with theratchet wheel.231 and supported in'the side member 288. Thequadrantplate 216 isdisposed adjacent to and outwardly oftheiratchet wheel231and carries a pawl '212 pivotally'mounted thereon and resilientlyurged into engagement with the ratchet wheel 231' by a'spring 214.'Theplate 210'is'connected' to the arm 252 bya link 216 and at a pointon the'opposite side 'of'the ,pivot pin 256'from the1 connection of'theactuating'rod 258 thereto. The arrangement of the arm 216 and thequadrant plate 21B is'such that during the above described slow movementof the'arm 252, the pawl 212 engages the ratchet wheel 231 androtates'the latter in a direction tocause the rolls 225-torotate in thedirection in which their Y adjacent surfacesmove downwardly and forcecookie batter through the extrusion die 246. The teeth on the ratchetwheel'231 and'on the pawl 212 are formed to provide a positiveengagement during this slow'movement of thearm 252 while permitting thepawl to'ride freely over theteeth of the gear as it moves in a reversedirection during the above described rapid movement of'the-arm 252. Thisconstruction permits the ratchet wheelto be disengaged from the pawl 212and move with the hopper assembly during its above described tiltingmovement, and return to engagement with theipawl when the hopperassembly is returned to the operative position,'illustrated in 'Fig. 5.

Intermediate the 'quadrantiplate 210 andthe ratchet wheel 231, anadjustable sector plate 280 is secured'to the shaft 211 and may bepositioned as desired-by means of a control knob 282 secured-toa;portion of the shaft extending out- 9 wardly of the hood side member298. The sector plate 280 has a peripheral portion concentric with theratchet wheel 23'! and of a radius slightly greater than the maximumradius of the gear. The sector plate 289 may be adjusted by means of theknob 282 to hold the pawl out of engagement with the gear during adesired portion of its movement and thereby vary the amount of rotationof the ratchet wheel 231 produced by the pawl 2l2 during one cycle ofmovement of the arm 252. It will be apparent that the portion of thedriving stroke of the pawl 212 during which it is held out ofengagement, as above described, may be varied by altering the positionof the sector plate and consequently the position at which the pawl 212moves clear of the sector plate and into engagement with the ratchetwheel 23?.

To prevent accidental movement of the sector plate 280, a disk 284 issecured to the knob 282 externally of the hood side 208 and is clampedin any desired adjusted position by means of a bolt 286 extendingthrough the side 208 and the disk 284 and receiving a knurled nut 288 onits outer end. The disk 284 is arcuately slotted, as indicated at 290,to permit limited shifting movement of the knob 282.

The cookie batter forced through the extruding die 246 is out off anddropped onto the tray 39 by means of a cutter wire mechanism carried onthe arm 252 adjacent to its lower end. Referring to Figs. 5, 13, 14, 15and 16, the cutter wire means includes a movably mounted cutter barextending between and supported on the lower ends of the arms 252.Outwardly of each arm 252, the bar 292 carries a crank 294 thereto forrotation therewith. A cutter wire 2%, disposed parallel and in spacedrelation to the bar 292, extends through corresponding ends of thecrank294 and is anchored at one end by a screw 298 which is threaded into oneof the cranks 294 and clamps the just mentioned end between the crankand the head of the screw. To permit adjusting the tension in the cutterwire 296, its opposite end extends through a hollow bolt 39!! and isreversely turned forming a loop 302, preventing withdrawal of the wirethrough the bolt 309. The bolt has a threaded engagement with the crank294 and carries a locking nut 304 which may be tightened against theouter surface of the crank 294 when the bolt 30!! has been adjusted toproduce the desired tension in the wire. Intermediate the cranks 294,the wire 295 is supported by a plurality of adjustable arms 396 whichare keyed to the shaft 252 by a single elongated key 348 and spaced tobe disposed intermediate adjacent extruding openings in the die. Eacharm 398 is secured against movement axially of the shaft 292 by asetscrew To provide a readily removable mounting of the cutter wire bar292, an aperture, adapted to receive the cutter bar 292, i formedcentrally of the lower end of each arm 252 and communicates with adownwardly extending slot 352. through which the shaft 292 may belowered from the arm 252. The cutter bar 292 is held in assembledrelation with the arm 252 by tubular retaining elements 3H4 slidablymounted on the shaft 292 and of a diameter substantially greater thanthe width of the slots 3l2. locking elements 3|4 fit within cylindricalcounterbores formed in the inner surfaces of the arms 252 and areresiliently held in position by springs 3H5.

One of the springs 3 I 6 also serves as. a tO O lBJ The spring havingone end anchored to the shaft 292 by securing a reversely bent end 318in an aperture extending transversely of the bar 292 and having itsother end anchored to a flange 329 formed on one of the retainingelements 3l4. The just mentioned element 314 is held against rotationrelative to the arm 252 by a pin 322 mounted in the arm and engagingwithin a notch 324 formed in the flange of the retaining element. Thistorsional spring acts to urge the cutter wire assembly in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 15, out of engagement with the die246.

The other spring 3I6 may terminate in flat coils at each end, one endseating in a recess 326 formed in the associated retaining element andthe other end seating against a washer 328 which is held againstmovement inwardly of the shaft 292 by a snap ring 339 mounted in acooperating annular groove formed in the shaft.

Movement of the cutter wire assembly between the operative positionillustrated in full lines in Figs. 5 and l5, and the retracted orinoperative position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 5, is effectedby a pair of similar cams 332 pivotally mounted on the outer surfaces ofthe arms 252 adjacent to the cranks 293. Referring to Figs. 5, 15 and17, the cams 332 have a downwardly extending projection 334 adapted toengage stops 336 and 338, secured to the table portion 39 of thecabinet, at opposite limits of its movement during the cycle of movementof the arm 252. This engagement with the stops 335 and 338 pivots thecam between the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5 and theposition there illustrated in broken lines. As the arm 252 reaches thelimits of its relatively slow counter,-. clockwise movement, as viewedin Fig. 5, the projection 334 engages the stop 336 and pivots the cam tothe position illustrated in full lines, in which a finger 345,integrally formed on the cam, engages within a notch 342 formed on thecrank 294, as best illustrated in Fig. 15. This provides a positiveengagement holding the cutter wire assembly in the operative positionand preventing the torsional spring 315 from pivoting the assembly tothe retracted position during the cookie cutting operation. To preventpivotal movement of the cam 332 beyond this position, as a result of theengagement of the projection 334 and the stop 333, an oppositelydirected finger 344, integrally formed on the cam, engages an adjustablestop in the form of a shank 343 threaded in a laterally extendingprojection 343 integrally formed on the arm 252. The stop 343 is held inthe desired adjusted position by a locking nut 350.

The cam 332 holds the cutter wire assembly in this position throughoutthe cookie cutting operation and until the arm 252 approaches theopposite limit of its movement and the cam projection 334 engages thestop 338 and pivots the cam to the position illustrated in broken linesin Fig. 5, and withdraws the cam finger 344 from engagement in the notch342 of the crank.

The pivotal movement of the cam 332, upon engagement with the stop 333,is limited by the engagement of the finger 345 with a second adjustablestop 352 similar to the stop 346, and also threa ed in the armprojection 348. Immediately upon the disengagement of the cam finger 349from the crank 294, the torsional spring 3; rotates the cutter wireassembly to the retracted or inoperative position illustrated in brokenlines in Fig. 5. This retracting of the cutter wire assembly preventsits I interfering with the cookie bate ter being extruded during: thecounterclockwise:

movement ofthe arm 252.-

Since-the cutter wire 298 is carried by theC- shaped-arm 252, it'movesin an'arc about-the pivot pin 256 upon which the arm is:pivotallymounted. The lower surface of the die-246', adjacenteachofthe-pluralityof cookie-extruding openings-241 formed therein, lies in the surface of'an imaginary cylinder concentric with the pivot pin 256. By virtue-ofthis construction, the

cutter wire 295 remainsincontact with thelower surface of the cookie die246 throughout thecookie cutting operation.

From-the foregoing description, it will be apparent that during eachcycle of movement of the c shapedarm 252 one -cookie-is formedandcutfrom each of the plurality ofextruding openings in-the-die 245- anddropped'ontooneof the- Thespeed'ofthe-cam shaft I34 and trays 38.thespeed=ofthesprockets 80' through which the conveyeris driven are-sorelated that each pass ing'trayreceives-aplurality of cookiedisks at thecookie forming station-40.

Afterthe cookie trays- 38 receive-thecookiedisks-in-the abovedeseribedmanner, they move to the-station 42 at which asuitabletoppingis dropped upon them by a mechanism which will now be described. Thetopping is-carried in a generally rectangularshaped container 360disposed transversely of the cabinet and comprising a pair of spacedwalls 362 which are-vertically disposed and terminate at their upper andlowerends'in'outwardly turned flanges 364 and 365, respectively;The-container is-closed at its sides byplates 368 which are providedwith outwardlyturnedflanges 370 at-their upper endswhich-engagecooperating flangesof brackets 312 which are=spot-welded or otherw-isesuitably securedto the top of the hood 2l The container is releasaby;secured'in 'place -by thumbscrews 3T3 mounted 'inthe flanges 310 andhaving a threaded -engagementwith the brackets-312 At its bottom,

the' topping container360 is-c1osed by a semii cylindrical shell 314- 1having; outwardly turnedflanges 3l6for-cooperating-with the flanges 366:The flanges-'366 and-3l6 are-secured together bya'plu toremovablysecurethe shell inplace.

rality-of bolts 318 extending -thereth'rough and receiving-thumb nuts-380; The shell 314' is-pr0- vided with 'apl-urality of apertures 382which are preferably arranged in a plurality of patterns adapted to droptopping upon the spaced cookie disks carried by; the tra-ys'38; Theabove described means of securing the cylindrical shell 314 permits theready variation of 'the'pattern of topping dropped upon the cookiesbythe-simple expedient of 'replacing 'oneshell with another cylindricalshell 3T4.- The metering plate 384 is also provided with a plurality ofapertures 3B6 adapted to'be moved into and out of registry with theapertures 382 upon movement of the metering plate.

Anagitator 388 is disposed Withinthe lower end of-the container '366'andhavinga plurality of U-shaped bars supported in spaced hubs secured toashaft 390 extending transversely of the container and supported in theend plates 368. TheshaftiSO-is concentric with thesemicylindrical'bottom 374 of 'the-topping container, and themetering-plateta l iwhich-rides on theinner 'surfacethereof. ihe-b-arsofthe agitator 388are proportioned so that thelower bars will move inanarcuate path adjacent to the inner surface of the metering plateSBd-toinsure a freeflow of the topping material through the meteringplate-and: the shell 3'l4when theapertures386and 382'arein registry.

Themetering 'plate'384 is maintained in engagement with theshell 314 bya-pair-of spring pressed: plungers- 392 mounted in tubular arms-394disposed at opposite-ends of the-container 36m and extending radiallyfrom the shaft 390: Each plunger 392has a downwardly extendingprojection 393 at its outer-end which is received ina cooperatingaperture inthe metering plate 384 to provide a drivingengagementtherewith; Each arm 394 is'seouredtoasleeve-HS adjacent-toits inner endsby a setscrew 398. The sleeves'396 are rotatable relative to the-shaft390 andextend: outwardly through the adjacent endplate; 3B8.- Externallyof the container 360, andadjacent toits outer end; each of the 'sleevesiiiiiicarries acrank 400 secured thereto for -rotation-therewithby adowel pin 402. The lower end of the lever 400 is-bifurcated, asbestillustrated in-Fig. 5; and engages a pin 402 fixed in th'eupper end 0f-acrank 484, thelower end of WhiChis secured to a transversely extendingshaft 406-1whichis journaledin brackets 4I0-depending-from theangleironframe members I09: The shaft-4ll8' extends forwardly of one-0f the camhousings-2G8disposedadjacent to the front of r the cabinet and carries apawl plate-4 l 2 secured thereto -uponwhich is mounted a-p aWl -4 I4-whichnormally-urged in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig:5; against a stop'4-l 6*bya spring- 418.

The pawl 41 4 is-adaptedto-engage-apair -of' overlapping camprojections420*and 422,, formed onthe-housing ZED-and a movable'plate423, carriedthereby; respectively, during thevertical"reciprocable--movement=of the=housing.- The cam plate 423i-is- -movably mounted topermit readyadjustment of' the overlap-0f -the-projections 429* tation of the arm268permits-theroller 264; and

the housing-260' in whichit is mounted, to drop; to their lowerposition;During this vertically downward movement=of the housing; the-lower edgeof the projection422-on the adjustable -camplate 423 engages the pawl M4and pivots the shaft 408 to which it-is connected throughthe pawl plate412, causing 'the pawl 414, thepawl plate 4l2'and the levers 406and-;400-"to-move:to the position illustrated in-brokenhnesimFig; 21.These -elements-- remain: in-this :position, thereby,

- holding the metering plate- 384 in-its open, position until theuppersurface ofthe projection, 420, on the-housing hasmoved clearofthepawl M4; The metering'plate is then-returned toitsclosedpositioniillustrated1in;fulllines in Figs. 5' and-'21,byatorsional-coilispring 424; one endLof,

whichprojectsthroughthe .shaft; 408' and the other endof-whichisanchoredflin one of the brackets 4 I 0;

The movement of the agitator 388 is effected by oscillating-the shaft390, to which it is secured,

by means of a crank 430, one end of which is secured to the shaft at itsouter end. The other end of the crank 430 is bifurcated to extend onopposite sides of the actuating link 258. A'driving engagement betweenthe link 258 and the crank 43!] is provided by a pair of washers 432 and434 which are mounted on the rod 258 and between which the bifurcatedend of the crank 430 is held. The lower washer 432 is supported in thedesired position on a pair of nuts 435 threaded on the actuating rod.I'he upper washer 43 is resiliently urged downwardly against the uppersurface of the cranks bifurcated end by a coil sprin 438 which encirclesth actuating rod and the upper end of which seats against a third washer440 which is held against upward movement by a pair of nuts 442 alsothreaded on the shaft 258. From the foregoing, it will be apparent thatthe vertical movement of the actuating shaft 258 during the operation ofthe cookie machine will drive the crank 430 and through it oscillate theagitator carrying shaft 390 which is journaled in the sleeves 396.

From the topping dropping station 42 the con veyor carries the trays 38into the cooking oven 32 through which they are moved in the abovedescribed manner. The above described cycle of movement is repeated foreach tray and the machine will continue to form, bake and remove cookiesso long as the cookie batter is replenished in the hopper 2| 8 or untilthe operator shuts down the machine. The baking time for the cookieswill vary for the different batters and sizes .of the cookie disks andthis is controlled by the time the cookies are in the oven which isregulated by the speed of the conveyer. Since all of the operatingelements are synchronized ahead of the adjustable speed reducers 52, thespeed of the conveyer can be changed without interferin with thesynchronized operation ofthe elements. When the conveyer is to be run atmaximum speed, the variation in baking time can be controlled by varyingthe output of the heating element or burner. The power supply to themotor and the heating element may be controlled by switches 446 and M8,respectively, mounted on the front wall of the cabinet and suitablyconnected to their respective units.

To permit access to the interior of the cabinet for adjusting the speedreducer 52 and servicin the equipment, the cabinet 39 is provided with apivotally mounted front panel 450 which is connected to the front wallof the cabinet by a piano hinge 452 extending along its upper edge. I'herear panel of the cabinet may be similarly mounted, or removably securedin the rear wall of the cabinet, by bolts or any other suitable means,to facilitate the servicing of the equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for making baked goods, an endless conveyor having atortuous path comprising substantially horizontal and upright runs andincluding a plurality of trays and means pivotally supporting said traysat spaced intervals along the conveyor for pivotal movement about asingle axis, counterbalance weight means carried by said trays fornormally maintaining said trays disposed horizontally, means forcontinuously driving said conveyor, an instrumentality at one pointalong the path of said conveyor engageable with said trays as said traysare moved therepast, said instrumentality being such as would normallycause said tray to swing about their pivots; and guide means at saidpoint acting independently of the influence of said coun- 14 terbalanceweight means for positively holding a tray against swinging movement,while being moved by the conveyor and while the instrumentality at saidpoint is engaged therewith.

2. In a machine for making baked goods, an

endless conveyor having a tortuous path comprising substantiallyhorizontal and upright runs and including a plurality of trays and meanspivotally supporting said trays at spaced intervals along the conveyorfor pivotal movement about a single axis, each of said trays having anormally horizontal surface disposed above the pivotal axis thereof;counterbalance weight means carried by said trays below the pivotal axisthereof for normally maintaining said trays disposed horizontally, meansfor continuously driving said conveyor, an instrumentality at one pointalong the path of said conveyor engageable with said trays as said traysare moved therepast, and guide means at said point acting independentlyof the influence of said counterbalance weight means for positivelyholding a tray against swinging movement, while being moved by theconveyor and while the instrumentality at said point is engagedtherewith.

3. In a machine for making baked goods, an endless conveyor having atortuous path comprising substantially horizontal and upright runs andincluding a plurality of trays and means pivotally supporting said traysat spaced intervals along the conveyor for pivotal movement about asingle axis, each of said trays having a substantially fiatundersurface, counterbalance weight means carried by said trays fornormally maintaining said trays disposed horizontally, means forcontinuously drivin said conveyor, an instrumentality at one point alongthe path of said conveyor engageable with said trays as said trays aremoved therepast, and guide means at said point engageable with theundersurface of a tray and acting independently of the influence of saidcounterbalance weight means for positively holding a tray againstswinging movement, while being moved by the conveyor and while theinstrumentality at said point is engaged therewith.

4. In a machine for making baked goods, an endless conveyor having atortuous path comprising substantially horizontal and upright runs andincluding a plurality of trays and means pivotally supporting said traysat spaced intervals along the conveyor for pivotal movement about asingle axis, counterbalance weight means carried by said trays fornormally maintaining said trays disposed horizontally, means forcontinuously driving said conveyor, means engageable with the trays atone point along the path of said conveyor for removing crumbs therefromas said trays are moved therepast, and guide means at said point actingindependently of the influence of said counterbalance weight means forpositively holding a tray against swinging movement, while being movedby the conveyor and. while engaged by said engageable means.

5. In a machine for making baked goods, an endless conveyor having atortuous path comprising substantially horizontal and upright runs andincluding a plurality of trays and means pivotally supporting said traysat spaced intervals along the conveyor for pivotal movement about asingle axis, counterbalance weight means carried by said trays fornormally maintaining said trays disposed horizontally, means forcontinuously driving said conveyor, cookie removing means at one pointalong the path of said conveyor engageable with said trays as said traysholding 'a t'i biyalgairist swingirigi movement; while being" qidvd bythe conveyor a-nd whileenag'ed by said cbbki removing means.

RICHARD-J. WIL'LIAMSZ REFERENCES CITED- Number Number Name Date- Houseu... Mar; 25,.19241 Backus Mar. 10,1925 Forby'et a1. Nov; 19, 1931- BaumJa-n; 5;,1932 Bausman et; a1. Oct. 18,1932- Taroni et' a1 May9, 1933.Hall July 24:;719345 McDonald Nov. 27,1934 Holtzman et a]. Sept. 12-,I939 Pointon' .Dec. 24, 1940 MacManus Jan. 14', 1947- Werner: Nov;15,1949

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden May 23,v 1908

